7 The LORD H3068 shall cause H5414 thine enemies H341 that rise up H6965 against thee to be smitten H5062 before thy face: H6440 they shall come out H3318 against thee one H259 way, H1870 and flee H5127 before H6440 thee seven H7651 ways. H1870
I have pursued H7291 mine enemies, H341 and destroyed H8045 them; and turned not again H7725 until I had consumed H3615 them. And I have consumed H3615 them, and wounded H4272 them, that they could not arise: H6965 yea, they are fallen H5307 under my feet. H7272 For thou hast girded H247 me with strength H2428 to battle: H4421 them that rose up H6965 against me hast thou subdued H3766 under me. Thou hast also given H5414 me the necks H6203 of mine enemies, H341 that I might destroy H6789 them that hate H8130 me.
And ye shall chase H7291 your enemies, H341 and they shall fall H5307 before H6440 you by the sword. H2719 And five H2568 of you shall chase H7291 an hundred, H3967 and an hundred H3967 of you shall put ten thousand H7233 to flight: H7291 and your enemies H341 shall fall H5307 before H6440 you by the sword. H2719
And when H6256 they began H2490 to sing H7440 and to praise, H8416 the LORD H3068 set H5414 ambushments H693 against the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 Moab, H4124 and mount H2022 Seir, H8165 which were come H935 against Judah; H3063 and they were smitten. H5062 For the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 and Moab H4124 stood up H5975 against the inhabitants H3427 of mount H2022 Seir, H8165 utterly to slay H2763 and destroy H8045 them: and when they had made an end H3615 of the inhabitants H3427 of Seir, H8165 every one H376 helped H5826 to destroy H4889 another. H7453 And when Judah H3063 came H935 toward the watch tower H4707 H4708 in the wilderness, H4057 they looked H6437 unto the multitude, H1995 and, behold, they were dead bodies H6297 fallen H5307 to the earth, H776 and none escaped. H6413 And when Jehoshaphat H3092 and his people H5971 came H935 to take away H962 the spoil H7998 of them, they found H4672 among them in abundance H7230 both riches H7399 with the dead bodies, H6297 and precious H2532 jewels, H3627 which they stripped off H5337 for themselves, more than H369 they could carry away: H4853 and they were three H7969 days H3117 in gathering H962 of the spoil, H7998 it was so much. H7227
And the LORD H3068 discomfited H2000 them before H6440 Israel, H3478 and slew H5221 them with a great H1419 slaughter H4347 at Gibeon, H1391 and chased H7291 them along the way H1870 that goeth up H4608 to Bethhoron, H1032 and smote H5221 them to Azekah, H5825 and unto Makkedah. H4719 And it came to pass, as they fled H5127 from before H6440 Israel, H3478 and were in the going down H4174 to Bethhoron, H1032 that the LORD H3068 cast down H7993 great H1419 stones H68 from heaven H8064 upon them unto Azekah, H5825 and they died: H4191 they were more H7227 which died H4191 with hailstones H1259 H68 than they whom H834 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 slew H2026 with the sword. H2719
And Samuel H8050 spake H559 unto all the house H1004 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 If ye do return H7725 unto the LORD H3068 with all your hearts, H3824 then put away H5493 the strange H5236 gods H430 and Ashtaroth H6252 from among H8432 you, and prepare H3559 your hearts H3824 unto the LORD, H3068 and serve H5647 him only: and he will deliver H5337 you out of the hand H3027 of the Philistines. H6430 Then the children H1121 of Israel H3478 did put away H5493 Baalim H1168 and Ashtaroth, H6252 and served H5647 the LORD H3068 only.
And as Samuel H8050 was offering up H5927 the burnt offering, H5930 the Philistines H6430 drew near H5066 to battle H4421 against Israel: H3478 but the LORD H3068 thundered H7481 with a great H1419 thunder H6963 on that day H3117 upon the Philistines, H6430 and discomfited H2000 them; and they were smitten H5062 before H6440 Israel. H3478 And the men H582 of Israel H3478 went out H3318 of Mizpeh, H4709 and pursued H7291 the Philistines, H6430 and smote H5221 them, until they came under Bethcar. H1033
And Asa H609 did H6213 that which was good H2896 and right H3477 in the eyes H5869 of the LORD H3068 his God: H430 For he took away H5493 the altars H4196 of the strange H5236 gods, and the high places, H1116 and brake down H7665 the images, H4676 and cut down H1438 the groves: H842 And commanded H559 Judah H3063 to seek H1875 the LORD H3068 God H430 of their fathers, H1 and to do H6213 the law H8451 and the commandment. H4687 Also he took away H5493 out of all the cities H5892 of Judah H3063 the high places H1116 and the images: H2553 and the kingdom H4467 was quiet H8252 before H6440 him. And he built H1129 fenced H4694 cities H5892 in Judah: H3063 for the land H776 had rest, H8252 and he had no war H4421 in those years; H8141 because the LORD H3068 had given him rest. H5117
And there came out H3318 against them Zerah H2226 the Ethiopian H3569 with an host H2428 of a thousand H505 thousand, H505 and three H7969 hundred H3967 chariots; H4818 and came H935 unto Mareshah. H4762 Then Asa H609 went out H3318 against H6440 him, and they set the battle H4421 in array H6186 in the valley H1516 of Zephathah H6859 at Mareshah. H4762 And Asa H609 cried H7121 unto the LORD H3068 his God, H430 and said, H559 LORD, H3068 it is nothing with thee to help, H5826 whether H996 with many, H7227 or with them that have no power: H3581 help H5826 us, O LORD H3068 our God; H430 for we rest H8172 on thee, and in thy name H8034 we go H935 against this multitude. H1995 O LORD, H3068 thou art our God; H430 let not man H582 prevail H6113 against thee. So the LORD H3068 smote H5062 the Ethiopians H3569 before H6440 Asa, H609 and before H6440 Judah; H3063 and the Ethiopians H3569 fled. H5127 And Asa H609 and the people H5971 that were with him pursued H7291 them unto Gerar: H1642 and the Ethiopians H3569 were overthrown, H5307 that they could not recover H4241 themselves; for they were destroyed H7665 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 and before H6440 his host; H4264 and they carried away H5375 very H3966 much H7235 spoil. H7998 And they smote H5221 all the cities H5892 round about H5439 Gerar; H1642 for the fear H6343 of the LORD H3068 came upon them: and they spoiled H962 all the cities; H5892 for there was exceeding much H7227 spoil H961 in them. They smote H5221 also the tents H168 of cattle, H4735 and carried away H7617 sheep H6629 and camels H1581 in abundance, H7230 and returned H7725 to Jerusalem. H3389
And thus did H6213 Hezekiah H3169 throughout all Judah, H3063 and wrought H6213 that which was good H2896 and right H3477 and truth H571 before H6440 the LORD H3068 his God. H430 And in every work H4639 that he began H2490 in the service H5656 of the house H1004 of God, H430 and in the law, H8451 and in the commandments, H4687 to seek H1875 his God, H430 he did H6213 it with all his heart, H3824 and prospered. H6743
And the LORD H3068 sent H7971 an angel, H4397 which cut off H3582 all the mighty men H1368 of valour, H2428 and the leaders H5057 and captains H8269 in the camp H4264 of the king H4428 of Assyria. H804 So he returned H7725 with shame H1322 of face H6440 to his own land. H776 And when he was come H935 into the house H1004 of his god, H430 they that came forth H3329 of his own bowels H4578 slew H5307 him there with the sword. H2719 Thus the LORD H3068 saved H3467 Hezekiah H3169 and the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem H3389 from the hand H3027 of Sennacherib H5576 the king H4428 of Assyria, H804 and from the hand H3027 of all other, and guided H5095 them on every side. H5439
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Deuteronomy 28
Commentary on Deuteronomy 28 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 28
De 28:1-68. The Blessings for Obedience.
1. if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God—In this chapter the blessings and curses are enumerated at length, and in various minute details, so that on the first entrance of the Israelites into the land of promise, their whole destiny was laid before them, as it was to result from their obedience or the contrary.
2. all these blessings shall come on thee—Their national obedience was to be rewarded by extraordinary and universal prosperity.
7. flee before thee seven ways—that is, in various directions, as always happens in a rout.
10. called by the name of the Lord—That they are really and actually His people (De 14:1; 26:18).
11. the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods—Beside the natural capabilities of Canaan, its extraordinary fruitfulness was traceable to the special blessing of Heaven.
12. The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure—The seasonable supply of the early and latter rain was one of the principal means by which their land was so uncommonly fruitful.
thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow—that is, thou shalt be in such affluent circumstances, as to be capable, out of thy superfluous wealth, to give aid to thy poorer neighbors.
13, 14. the head, and not the tail—an Oriental form of expression, indicating the possession of independent power and great dignity and acknowledged excellence (Isa 9:14; 19:15).
15-20. But … if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord—Curses that were to follow them in the event of disobedience are now enumerated, and they are almost exact counterparts of the blessings which were described in the preceding context as the reward of a faithful adherence to the covenant.
21. pestilence—some fatal epidemic. There is no reason, however, to think that the plague, which is the great modern scourge of the East, is referred to.
22. a consumption—a wasting disorder; but the modern tuberculosis is almost unknown in Asia.
fever … inflammation … extreme burning—Fever is rendered "burning ague" (Le 26:16), and the others mentioned along with it evidently point to those febrile affections which are of malignant character and great frequency in the East.
the sword—rather, "dryness"—the effect on the human body of such violent disorders.
blasting, and with mildew—two atmospheric influences fatal to grain.
23. heaven … brass … earth … iron—strong Oriental figures used to describe the effects of long-continued drought. This want of regular and seasonable rain is allowed by the most intelligent observers to be one great cause of the present sterility of Palestine.
24. the rain of thy land powder and dust—an allusion probably to the dreadful effects of tornadoes in the East, which, raising the sands in immense twisted pillars, drive them along with the fury of a tempest. These shifting sands are most destructive to cultivated lands; and in consequence of their encroachments, many once fertile regions of the East are now barren deserts.
27. the botch of Egypt—a troublesome eruption, marked by red pimples, to which, at the rising of the Nile, the Egyptians are subject.
emerods—fistulæ or piles.
scab—scurvy.
itch—the disease commonly known by that name; but it is far more malignant in the East than is ever witnessed in our part of the world.
28. madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart—They would be bewildered and paralyzed with terror at the extent of their calamities.
29-33. thou shalt grope at noonday—a general description of the painful uncertainty in which they would live. During the Middle Ages the Jews were driven from society into hiding-places which they were afraid to leave, not knowing from what quarter they might be assailed and their children dragged into captivity, from which no friend could rescue, and no money ransom them.
35. the Lord shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs—This is an exact description of elephantiasis, a horrible disease, something like leprosy, which attacks particularly the lower extremities.
36. The Lord shall bring thee, and thy king, &c.—This shows how widespread would be the national calamity; and at the same time how hopeless, when he who should have been their defender shared the captive fate of his subjects.
there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone—The Hebrew exiles, with some honorable exceptions, were seduced or compelled into idolatry in the Assyrian and Babylonish captivities (Jer 44:17-19). Thus, the sin to which they had too often betrayed a perverse fondness, a deep-rooted propensity, became their punishment and their misery.
37. And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the Lord shall lead thee, &c.—The annals of almost every nation, for eighteen hundred years, afford abundant proofs that this has been, as it still is, the case—the very name of Jew being a universally recognized term for extreme degradation and wretchedness.
49. The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far—the invasion of the Romans—"they came from far." The soldiers of the invading army were taken from France, Spain, and Britain—then considered "the end of the earth." Julius Severus, the commander, afterwards Vespasian and Hadrian, left Britain for the scene of contest. Moreover, the ensign on the standards of the Roman army was "an eagle"; and the dialects spoken by the soldiers of the different nations that composed that army were altogether unintelligible to the Jews.
50. A nation of fierce countenance—a just description of the Romans, who were not only bold and unyielding, but ruthless and implacable.
51. he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, &c.—According to the Jewish historian, every district of the country through which they passed was strewn with the wrecks of their devastation.
52. he shall besiege thee … until thy high and fenced walls come down—All the fortified places to which the people betook themselves for safety were burnt or demolished, and the walls of Jerusalem itself razed to the ground.
53-57. And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body—(See 2Ki 6:29; La 4:10). Such were the dreadful extremities to which the inhabitants during the siege were reduced that many women sustained a wretched existence by eating the flesh of their own children. Parental affection was extinguished, and the nearest relatives were jealously, avoided, lest they should discover and demand a share of the revolting viands.
62. ye shall be left few in number—There has been, ever since the destruction of Jerusalem, only an inconsiderable remnant of Jews existing in that land—aliens in the land of their fathers; and of all classes of the inhabitants they are the most degraded and miserable beings, dependent for their support on contributions from other lands.
63. ye shall be plucked from off the land—Hadrian issued a proclamation, forbidding any Jews to reside in Judea, or even to approach its confines.
64. the Lord shall scatter thee among all people—There is, perhaps, not a country in the world where Jews are not to be found. Who that looks on this condition of the Hebrews is not filled with awe, when he considers the fulfilment of this prophecy?
68. The Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships—The accomplishment of this prediction took place under Titus, when, according to Josephus, multitudes of Jews were transported in ships to the land of the Nile, and sold as slaves. "Here, then, are instances of prophecies delivered above three thousand years ago; and yet, as we see, being fulfilled in the world at this very time; and what stronger proofs can we desire of the divine legation of Moses? How these instances may affect others I know not; but for myself, I must acknowledge, they not only convince but amaze and astonish me beyond expression; they are truly, as Moses foretold (De 28:45, 46) they would be, 'a sign and a wonder for ever'" [Bishop Newton].